Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Paterson, New Jersey only, not surrounding Passaic County municipalities. City-linked April 2016 Land Development Ordinance, Article V certified as adopted February 9, 2016, §500-7.1F. Read November 6, 2026. Later amendments and parcel approvals should be confirmed with the City Clerk; the PDF does not give a newer amendment cutoff.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Paterson RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | At the equipment owner’s principal-residence lot only, using the required position or actual loading exception. Carport, enclosed building or behind the building portion nearest the street; unlicensed vehicles require full enclosure. |
| Street / loading | Major recreational equipment may not park in a public right-of-way. Up to 24 hours elsewhere on residential premises during actual loading or unloading; owner-residence and other restrictions remain. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Living, sleeping and housekeeping prohibited on residential lots or other locations not approved for that use. Storage or loading permission does not authorize hookups or residential use. |
Residential storage belongs at the owner’s home
Section 500-7.1F covers travel trailers, pickup campers or coaches, motorized dwellings, tent trailers and related major recreational equipment. Within a residential district, storage must be on the lot containing the equipment owner’s principal residence. Permission from a friend to use another residential lot does not satisfy this ownership-and-residence condition.
Placement and the 24-hour loading exception
Ordinary placement must be in a carport, an enclosed building, or behind the portion of a building nearest the street. Actual loading or unloading may use other positions on the residential premises for up to 24 hours. Vehicles and trailers without current license plates must be in a completely enclosed building on residentially used or zoned property. A carport is not that enclosure.
No street parking or residential sleeping
Major recreational equipment may not park in a public right-of-way. Living, sleeping and housekeeping are prohibited on a residential lot or another location not approved for those uses. Parking areas may not be used for vehicle repair, dismantling or servicing. Utility connections do not convert a storage position into an approved occupied site. Obtain a separate determination for a lawfully approved campground or other special use.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Paterson Planning or Code Enforcement to confirm jurisdiction, the actual parcel or road, vehicle classification, position, duration and intended use. Obtain the required road, building, electrical, plumbing or wastewater approvals before relying on a parking exception. Easements, HOA rules and leases remain separate. Start with the official rule or permit guidance.
Use the Paterson parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed November 6, 2026
- Paterson Land Development Ordinance §500-7.1F
City-hosted adopted Article V: recreational equipment storage, loading, occupied-use and right-of-way restrictions.
- Paterson municipal code, Chapter 483
Current code directs readers to the Zoning and Land Development Ordinance on file with the City Clerk.
A review date records when we checked these sources. The notes above explain any use of older code editions or limits on access to the full source; an address-specific city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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